Three years after the release of the Chainsaw Man anime, the series is finally back, getting the direct movie-sequel treatment. This trend was first popularized by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in 2020, a film that smashed box office records and became the highest grossing Japanese film of all time. A feat, in fact, that has recently been surpassed by the newest film in the franchise, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. The formula, in short, proved to be so successful many anime studios started using it. However, some of the best movies following this trend were, for all their merits, still adapting an episodic manga. Their appeal, as films, hinges more on the theatrical experience itself, rather than as self-conclusive animated features. But here is where Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc stands out, as it succeeds as a stand-alone film leveraging on the characters the original series expertly established.
The Chainsaw Man anime, for those who recall, was always attuned to films as an artistic medium. In the opening sequence alone, the show drops references to Pulp Fiction, No Country for Old Men, The Chainsaw Texas Massacre and The Big Lebowski, to name a few. Indeed, director Ryū Nakayama rightfully recognized Tatsuki Fujimoto (the creator of Chainsaw Man) love for film and knack for its storytelling structure. Additionally, proof that his work was made for the silver screen already manifested in the critically acclaimed adaptation of his one-off manga, Look Back, released in 2024. But the Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc movie takes things to new highs.
From its engaging story, to its simultaneously subtle and bombastic animation, to the soundtrack and expertly planned cohesion, this movie is special. And if you’re still unsure if you should watch it, keep reading.
What You Need to Know?
As stated before, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc works as a stand-alone film, but the key questions remain. Could I just go to the theatre without watching the show? What if I don’t remember the original series? What do I need to know? Well, dear reader, we’ll let you know immediately that the movie could be realistically watched knowing as little as the Chainsaw Man premise. And while the series is often mis-characterized as a horny supernatural kid whose goal in life is to get laid, underneath that facade lies a complex story.
A more accurate description of Chainsaw Man would be: Denji, a low-life 16-year-old kid, finally gets an opportunity to live a proper life after acquiring the power of the Chainsaw devil and being hired as a demon hunter by the Public Safety Department. With this new-found opportunity, Denji must learn about life like he never knew it before, with goals to look forward to and relationships to treasure. Yet, he is still inept in navigating this world, which is why he latches onto his hormonal teenage instincts. What constitutes a good life is something he must learn along the way.
But there is one more thing about the story you should know, and that is that the chainsaw devil, for reasons yet unexplained, is of particular importance. The gun devil, who is framed as the main antagonist of the show, wants the chainsaw man’s heart. And this makes Denji’s development through the world not only difficult, but dangerous, for both his mental and physical well-being.
Of course, the story of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc would be more thoroughly enjoyed if you watched (or rewatched) the show, but the movie is so expertly framed that it’s not a requirement.
The Plot of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc (Spoiler free)
After the opening song, the movie begins with Denji wondering if he has a heart. The question seems to stem from his traumatized childhood as much as it does his current status as a half-demon. A heart, or more specifically, the feelings commonly associated with it, are something Denji hasn’t experienced before. Moreover, those feelings are for “normal” people, a title Denji doesn’t feel particularly deserving of. The scene itself comes after he and his boss/crush, Makima, go on a 10 movie marathon date. Denji is constantly looking around the theatre for cues as to how to act, and after the last movie (in a scene I won’t spoil), he asks Makima the question. Her answer, consequently, makes him think he has a heart as long as it beats for her.
Thematically speaking, however, the movie begins with the introduction of Reze. Reze is a girl around Denji’s age, who he meets while escaping the rain in a telephone booth. In the special theatrical booklet released for the movie, Tatsuki Fujimoto revealed that this scene, and the arc itself, was inspired by Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. According to him, he wanted to explore how the characters’ physical closeness ultimately causes their emotional distance to shrink. In short, Denji is falling for her, and the central plot of the film revolves around that and how he manages liking two girls at once.
But to anyone who is not as naive as Denji, something is immediately odd about Reze. She is too flirtatious, too straightforward, too physical. She clearly knows more than she is letting on. So, how much of her attitude is genuine? This question is the living heart of the movie and the one that ultimately adds a layer of nuances to every aspect of it. The visual metaphors, the dialogue, the soundtrack and animation, all are in service of this thematic element; the possibility of sincerity rearing through the window.
Romantic Comedy or Action Flick?
Given the plot description, focusing on love triangles and progressive infatuation, it would be easy to conclude this is a romantic comedy. But make no mistake, dear reader, this is still adapting a shonen action manga, and a high budget one at that. This is to say, the film is full of action setpieces, delivered with animation so chaotically explosive it will get anyone’s blood immediately pumping. Overall, the film perfectly balances being a romantic comedy and an action movie, transitioning between one and the other seamlessly. But, it is even more than that. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is true to Tatsuki Fujimoto’s range of inspirations, which can include anything from horror movies tropes to even the crude humor of South Park (which famously inspired the character of Power).
But all of these inspirations would mean nothing if the final product was incohesive. It’s not enough to simply copy and paste your influences, one must make something out of it, and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc does. The film knows exactly when an element should be added, either creating tensions, alleviating it, or playing jokes with the audience. Denji’s awkward sexual fantasies, for example, are never jarring for the viewer, precisely because the movie adds comedic or slasher horror elements to deviate from it. The subsequent effects can be dramatic, nerve-wracking or hilarious. The movie is constantly engaged in this dance with the viewer, wearing its inspirations openly, but always in service of a nuanced scene. So yes, it’s both an action movie and a romantic comedy, but more importantly, it is a masterfully paced and executed experience that wants to have you constantly enthralled.
The Animation
Directed by the talented Tatsuya Yoshihara and his team of animators at Studio Mappa (responsible for Jujutsu Kaisen 0), it’s no surprise that the movie looks gorgeous. But perhaps more importantly, it looks seamless. The world of Chainsaw Man is visually similar to our own, which is why it is all the more impressive their characters blend in perfectly. They are framed as inhabitants of this world, and in the story about a guy finally being let into normal life, this is all the more relevant. Yet, the film is always sure to frame the characters in the shot correctly, so even when they don’t physically stand out, they are the center of attention. Of course, this isn’t to say the characters don’t pop, because they absolutely do when they need to. Dark outlines are occasionally added, giving the character and their surrounding a sense of weight that guides the viewers masterfully.
The fluidity of the character’s animation follows a similar ethos. Similar to 2024’s Look Back, a huge effort has been given to the subtle and more human animated details. Eyes twitch in discomfort, cold bodies shiver and human warmth seem to soften the skin. Facial expressions are vivid, hands gestures are evocative, and there’s always a hidden layer or meaning behind a character’s action. But when the movie goes into action mode, the animation is fast, ragingly fluid, intentionally messy and, for reasons that would become obvious if you watch the movie, explosive. So explosive, in fact, buildings fall, blood is splattered across Tokyo and actions are carried like a lighted fused, slowly building up until it detonates. It’s fun, thrilling, visually impressive and makes thematic sense within the story, which is an achievement worth celebrating.
The Colour
While on the topic of its animation, the film’s use of colour needs to be praised. Each scene employs a distinct colour palette that suggestively plays off the emotions being conveyed, often focusing on an element as a guiding force. To give an example, there’s a scene in a swimming pool at night, which is canonically cold, but it’s given a soft cyan hue, making it enticingly warm. This, of course, is directly playing with the scene at hand, as the pool may not be physically warm, but it emotionally is. Diving in the pool has implications, risks and rewards, and they’re greatly conveyed in the use of colour.
And this should not be left unsaid, but the movie is not above fan service, which in this case works to its benefit. Some of the use of colours is used to simulate some colours spreads drawn by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Colours like green, red and purple are added suddenly in some scenes, and their inclusion is not only welcome by fans, but film critics alike. The specific moments in which they’re added justify their sudden inclusion, as they appeared over story beats so insane they fit perfectly. Again, this is a feat worth celebrating; the film’s ingenious execution of the source material allows it to simultaneously satisfy the demands of cinematic storytelling, and honour the stylistic flair cherished by its fans. They can, in short, have their cake and eat it too.
The Soundtrack
Discussions about anime sequels like this one often begin and end with the theme song. So let’s set the record straight: the opening song, Iris Out, performed by Kenshi Yonezu, is amazing. It’s a song that perfectly captures the messy mundane of the series, while also being an exciting pop tune that gets you ready for action. The accompanying music video, played in the beginning of the movie, is also fantastic, making Makima the point of view character in a way that hints at her powerful status and controlling nature. While never shown in the video itself, she is always watching, with her spiral iris being a recurrent element. So yes, that song is great, but the rest of the soundtrack and its utilization is equally deserving of praise.
Composer Kensuke Ushio, who also composed music for the original series, did a fantastic job, adequately and subtly guiding the viewer through each scene’s emotions. The aforementioned pool scene, for example, has a song with beautiful piano and strings arrangements, which hints at the emotional warmth the pool can provide to the characters. On the other hand, action scenes are presented to the backdrop of electric guitars and drums, adding to the exciting animation presented.
This all being said, Kensuke Ushio is perhaps at his best in the scenes that bridge the gap between action and romance. Where the music is supposed to blur the lines, and one element proves triumphant over the other. The song Sweet Danger is a particular stand out, beginning a disquieting drone tune with piano notes so clustered the sensation that something has gone acutely wrong is palpable. And that is just one example, the soundtrack is filled with songs like this that come exactly at the right moment, always adding to the film watching experience.
Sticking the Landing
If there’s one thing we want you to get out of this review is that Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is a cohesive film. Simultaneously a stand-alone experience and a compelling continuation of the show. This movie achieves this due to its perfectly executed conclusion that, through the use of reincorporation, makes the movie go full circle. Additionally, the way this ending opens the series up for its continuation is genius. It does not rely on the use of a cheap cliffhanger, rather, it answers a question posed by the movie, while opening up more questions for the viewer to ponder.
This movie is, in conclusion, an amazing piece of filmmaking, one in which every element is purposely in service of a cohesive and engaging narrative. It’s an action, romance and drama film all at once, managing a tonal balancing act that makes the story consistently memorable. The animation is concerned with the small and big details, with subtle touches of human emotion and explosive peaks of Sakuga action. The music, in much the same vein, goes from rock songs to soft piano ballads, transitioning as the movie develops, always keeping the viewer at the edge of their seat.
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is, in short, a movie that you need to watch, preferably with a white shirt and a black tie. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now and go experience this amazing film!
